"What's happening? . . . . . What's happening?"

It keeps flashing before his eyes that moment he can't forget the confusion in his eyes followed by the pain screaming from each inch of his body. These are images forever burned into his mind.

He shakes his head and reaches for his glass of bourbon draining it he starts to pace the living room

His body becoming limp in his arms no matter how hard he holds on to him on matter how much he tries to deny it Ric is gone.

He screams throwing the glass into the fireplace, clutching his head his begins to replay the scene over and over again.

"No . . . . No. . . ." his hands grip the mantelpiece he almost doesn't hear the front door open footsteps but he doesn't turn around

"Damon" Stefan speaks softly "Damon talk to me"

"Why should I?" he reaches for the unopened bottle of bourbon on the mantel "You got her back"

"What do you mean?"

Damon turns around to glare at Stefan who was standing at the stairs to the living room.

"You know what I mean Stefan. Elena. You got her . . . back" his voice breaks as a fresh tear falls down his cheek.

"This is about Alaric isn't it? He's dead Damon and Elena is alive that's all that matters now. Damon listen . . ."

"Don't you see I don't care about her, she. . . SHE MEANS NOTHING TO ME" Damon's anger rises as he hurls the bottle at Stefan's head missing him it smashes inches away of his face. "Just get out"

"Damon I . . . "

"GET OUT!" The door opens and closes again his anger bursts out in a gut wrenching scream "Why her?" he thinks "Why did she survive and not Ric" he sinks to his knees fists pounding the floor tears streaming down his cheeks.

His mind flashes back to last week morning light had started to pour through the curtains, A mess of brown hair shifts on the pillow next to him, looking down he sees their hands are still entwined from when they fell asleep, Glancing up he see Alaric's beautiful brown eye looking back at him and soft smile on his lips. He is speechless only he can do this to him, make him feel like this.

"Good morning" his voice still rough with sleep he raises their hands as he places a warm kiss to the back of Damon's. He lifts his other hand to move the stray hairs from Ric's face and sighs

"I love you"

"I love you too"